Climbing rose plant named ‘WEKpurost’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Climbing rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of wine purple coloration.

CLASSIFICATION:

The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida plant.

Variety denomination:

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘WEKpurosot’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Climbing Rose.It has an undisseminated seedling of the inventor's creation as its seedparent with following genetic origin (International ‘HeraldTribune’×Rosa soulieana derivative)×(‘Sweet Chariot’×‘Blue Nile’) and asits pollen parent the variety known as ‘WEKtorroc’ (not patented).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combination of characteristics: its numerous hairs onthe peduncles, styles, rachis and flower receptacles, its strongcitrus-like and spicy flower fragrance, its very long foliaceousappendages on the surface of the bud, its unusual wine purple flowercoloration and its heavy red suffusion on the stipules. The plant has aspreading climbing growing habit, suitable for outdoor gardendecoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Upland, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKpurosot’ may beasexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding andgrafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv.‘Dr. Huey’ (unpatented).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, anundisseminated seedling of the inventor's creation by the followingcombination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKpurosot’ bears medium sizedflowers (about 7.3 to about 9.8 cm. in diameter) of wine purplecoloration, the undisseminated seedling bears significantly smallerflowers of lavender coloration. The new variety is classified as aclimbing rose with a spreading climbing growing habit, whereas the seedparent is a floribunda rose with a significantly shorter and morecompact growing habit.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, ‘WEKtorroc’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,623) by the following combination ofcharacteristics: whereas ‘WEKpursor’ bears semi-double flowers (about 10to 13 petals) of wine purple coloration, ‘WEKtorroc’ bears doubleflowers of deep pink striped white coloration with significantly heavierpetalage (about 17 to 25 peals). The new variety bears flowers with astrong citrus-like and spicy fragrance, whereas the pollen parent bearsflowers with a significantly lighter fragrance.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘WEKfabpur’ by the following combination ofcharacteristics: whereas ‘WEKpurosot’ bears medium sized flowers (about7.3 to about 9.8 cm. in diameter) of wine purple coloration, ‘WEKfabpur’bears significantly smaller flowers (about 5.3 to about 7.4 cm. indiameter) of velvety black purple coloration with a white eye. The newvariety is classified as a climbing rose with a spreading climbinggrowing habit with canes about 250 to about 380 cm. in length, whereasthe closest commercially available cultivar is classified as a shrubrose with a bushy compact and significantly shorter growing habit (about75 to about 92 cm. in height).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(1966), except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Upland, Calif. in the month of October.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

The new variety botanical designation is Rosa hybrida ‘WEKpurosot’.

FLOWER

The new variety usually bears its flowers in clusters of five to eightor more per stem. Flowers are borne in regular rounded clusters onstrong medium to long stems (about 36 to about 105 cm.). Outdoors, theplant blooms abundantly and nearly continuously during the growingseason. The flowers have a strong citrus-like and spicy fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 2.7 to about 4.0 cm. in length, of average caliper(about 0.2 to about 0.3 cm. in diameter), and usually erect. It isentirely smooth with numerous hairs. Peduncle color is between 144A and146C often moderately suffused, especially on the side exposed to thesun, with between 187B and 183B.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 0.8 to about 1.4 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.4 to about 1.8 cm. in length, andpointed to somewhat ovoid in shape with a moderately conspicuous neck.The surface of the bud bears few very long foliaceous appendages andsome hairs, usually with slender entire foliaceous parts extendingbeyond the tip of the bud about ¼ or more of its length. Bud color isbetween 144A and 146C often moderately suffused, especially on the sideexposed to the sun, with between 187A and 183A.

The sepals are about 1.9 to about 2.8 cm. in length and about 0.5 toabout 0.7 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 144A and 146C often moderately suffused, especiallyon the side exposed to the sun, with between 187A and 183A. The innersurface color of the sepal is between 137A and 138B and covered withfine wooly tomentum; sepal margins are lined with some stipitate glandsand numerous hairs.

The receptacle of the flower is of medium length (about 0.5 to about 0.8cm.) and somewhat heavy in caliper (about 0.4 to about 0.7 cm. indiameter). The receptacle is globular to somewhat rounded in form. Itssurface is very smooth with numerous hairs and with thick fleshy walls.The receptacle color is between 144A and 146C often moderately suffused,especially on the side exposed to the sun, with between 187B and 183B.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.3 toabout 1.8 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 1.5 to about 2.5cm. in length, and moderately ovoid to somewhat pointed in form. Thecolor of the under surfaces of the newly opened petals is near 187D atthe lower third of the petal gradually suffusing to between 187B and 59Btoward the remaining surface of the petal usually showing a petal edgeas dark as near 187A. At the point where the petal attaches, there is amoderately small zone of between 1C and 3C.

At the point where the petal attaches on the upper surfaces of the newlyopened petals, there is a somewhat large zone of between 7A and 9A.Surrounding that attachment zone is a moderately defined zone of between59C and 60B that gradually suffuses to between 187B and 59B toward thecenter of the petal that continues to suffuse to darker than near 187Aon the upper two-thirds of the petal.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 7.3 to about 9.8 cm. indiameter. Petalage is semi-double with about 10 to 13 petals and about 1to 3 petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloom fromis cupped to somewhat globular, and the petals are loosely spiraled tocupped to somewhat undulated with petal edges slightly reflexed outward.When fully open, the bloom form is more cupped, and the petals areloosely cupped to somewhat undulated with petal edges slightly reflexedoutward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is moderately heavy and of medium to thickthickness, with upper surfaces velvety to moderately satiny and undersurfaces very shiny. The petals are about 2.9 to about 5.1 cm. in lengthand about 3.1 to about 5.2 cm. in width at the widest point. Petalmargins are entire.

The outer petals are nearly rounded to somewhat obovate in shape withrounded to sometimes retuse apices.

The inner petals are broadly rounded to moderately obovate the in shapewith rounded apices.

Petaloids are about 2.2 to about 3.3 cm. in length and about 2.0 toabout 3.4 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are irregularlyshaped moderately small zone of between 1D and 3D.

At the point where the petal attaches on the upper surfaces of theouter, intermediate and inner petals, there is a somewhat large one ofbetween 6C and 7C. Surrounding that attachment zone is a moderatelydefined zone of between 60C and 64B that gradually suffuses to between59B and 64B toward the center of the petal that continues to suffuse tobetween 79A and 60A on the upper two-thirds of the petal.

The under and upper surface color of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the outer, intermediateand inner petals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 59B and 64Bthat suffuses to between 79A and 60A on the outer two-thirds of theflower.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 72A and 74B gradually suffusing toward the petal edge with asdark as between 79A and 71B. At the point where the petal attaches,there is a large zone of between 4D and 155A.

At the point where the petal attaches on the upper surfaces of theouter, intermediate and inner petals, there is a somewhat large zone ofbetween 155A and 4D. Surrounding that attachment zone is a moderatelydefined zone of between 81D and 69D that gradually suffuses to between72A and 71C toward the center of the petal that continues to suffuse tobetween 79A and 72A on the upper two-thirds of the petal.

The under and upper surface color of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the outer, intermediateand inner petals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 72A and 71Cthat suffuses to between 79A and 72A on the outer two-thirds of theflower.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In October in Upland, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are many in number (average about 120) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids. Thefilaments are of medium to long length (about 0.5 to about 1.5 cm.) mostwith anthers. Filaments are between 6C and 7C in color sometimes verylightly suffused with near 44D. The anthers are moderately small for theclass and all open approximately at the same time. Anther color is near17A on the external part and near 15D on the internal part whenimmature. Anther color at maturity is near 164C on the external part andnear 200A on the internal part. Pollen is very abundant and between 16Aand 15B in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 40). The styles are moderatelyeven, very short in length (about 0.2 to about 0.4 cm.), average incaliper, and somewhat loosely bunched. Stigma color is between 14D and20C. Style color is between 4D and 8D usually heavily suffused with near53A. The styles are moderately covered with fine hairs. Ovaries areusually all enclosed in the calyx.

Hips are of average length (about 1.1 to about 1.5 cm.), very rounded tosomewhat globular in form, and between 28A and 30A in color when ripe.The hip surface is very smooth with some hairs and with thick fleshywalls. The sepals are somewhat permanent and usually straight in shape.

The seeds are irregularly rounded, smooth in texture, approximately 10to about 18 per hip, about 0.3 to about 0.5 cm. in diameter at thewidest point and between 161B and 162C in color.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to seven leaflets andare borne abundantly. The seven-leaflet leaves are about 9.8 to about18.4 cm. in length and about 7.4 to about 14.2 cm. in width at thewidest point, moderately leathery to somewhat crisp in texture andsemi-glossy in finish. The terminal leaflets are about 4.4 to about 7.6cm. in length and about 2.5 to about 5.3 cm. in width at the widestpoint, shaped moderately ovate to somewhat oval with acute apices androunded to slightly acute bases. Their margins are usually simplyserrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 137A and 143A. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 146B and 147C. Theupper surface color of the young leaf is between 146A and 144A, oftenmoderately suffused with between 187A and 183A. The under surface colorof the young leaf is between 146C and 144A, often moderately suffusedwith between 187B and 183A.

The rachis is average to somewhat heavy in caliper and moderately rough.The upper side is moderately grooved with numerous hairs and somestipitate glands on the edges of the grooves. The under side of therachis is moderately rough with numerous hairs and few small prickles.The rachis color is near 146D on the under side and near 146B on theupper side, often moderately suffused especially on the young leaf withbetween 187A and 183A.

The stipules are about 1.2 to about 2.7 cm. in length and moderatelywide (about 0.5 to about 0.8 cm.) with moderately long straight pointsthat usually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees and oftenrecurve toward the stem. The stipules color is between 137C and 146Boften heavily suffused especially on the young leaf with between 187Aand 187B.

The petiole is average to somewhat heavy in caliper and moderatelyrough. The upper side is moderately grooved with numerous hairs and somestipitate glands on the edges of the grooves. The under side of thepetiole is moderately rough with numerous hairs and few small prickles.The petiole is about 0.4 to about 1.5 cm. in length and about 0.2 toabout 0.3 cm in diameter at the widest point. The petiole color is near146D on the under side and near 146B on the upper side, often moderatelysuffused especially on the young leaf with between 187A and 183A.

The plant displays on above average degree of resistance to powderymildew and rust as compared to other commercial varieties grown undercomparable conditions in Upland, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has a spreading climbing growing habit with canes about 250 toabout 380 cm. in length with full branching. It displays very vigorousgrowth and the canes are of somewhat heavy caliper for the class.

The color of the major stems is between 152B and 147B. They bear somelarge prickles that are about 1.0 to about 1.4 cm in length. The largeprickles are slightly hooked downward with a somewhat long broad ovalbase; prickle and color is between 164A and 166C. The major stem bearsno small prickles.

The color of the branches 146B and 146C sometimes moderately suffusedwith between 187B and 183A. They bear some large prickles which are ofsimilar shape to the large prickles on the major stems. Prickles areabout 0.4 to about 0.6 cm. in length. The color is between 166C and165C. The branches bear no small prickles. The branches sometimes bearsome fine hairs.

The color of the new shoots is between 144A and 146D often heavilysuffused with between 187B and 183A. They bear some large prickles whichare of similar shape to the large prickles on the major stems. Pricklesare about 0.5 to about 0.8 cm. in length. The color is between 160B and151C usually heavily suffused with between 187A and 187B. The shootsbear no small prickles. The new shoots sometimes bear some fine hairs.

1. A new and distinct Climbing rose plant of the variety substantiallyas described and illustrated herein.